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Life for a Child News

It is not an easy thing for someone with type 1 diabetes to undertake a major sporting event. As their own body doesn't manufacture insulin, they rely on injected insulin and must regularly test their blood glucose, even while racing.

In July, the Insulin Bank of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka held their first camp for young people with type 1 diabetes, partly supported with funding from the IDF Life for a Child Programme. The camp involved 15 young people, seven girls and eight boys, aged 15-20 and was held at the Governors Camp, situated outside Wilpattu National Park, just outside the capital city Colombo.

Site visits are critical for the expansion of the IDF Life for a Child Programme (LFAC). They provide an opportunity for LFAC to check and review progress, teaching and mentoring, and for recipient centres to express needs. Each visit leads to improvements in care.

In July, Angie Middlehurst, Education Manager for the IDF Life for a Child (LFAC) Programme, spent a week in Jamaica, primarily to visit a diabetes camp conducted by the Kingston Social Development Commission in conjunction with the Diabetes Association of Jamaica (DAJ).

Diabetes is a great challenge in the developing world. Many children and adolescents with diabetes die quickly or are chronically unwell due to lack of availability of quality care. Education of children and their families is essential so they can understand what diabetes is and live a healthy and full life. Likewise, health professionals need resources and training to provide quality care.

Building on the milestone year of 2012, the IDF Life for a Child Programme (LFAC) stepped up its efforts in 2013 to address the multiple needs of children with type 1 diabetes in developing countries. By increasing the strength and number of connections in the diabetes community, LFAC was able to further improve outcomes for children and youth cared for in the 64 centres in 43 countries that it supported during the year.

The Monghol Rally is described as the world's only 100% charitable car rally and also as one of the most dangerous. Starting in London, England, contestants cover approximately 10,000 kms, making their way to Ulan Batur, Mongolia. Once past the finish line, all entry vehicles are then used in Mongolia for charity services or sold commercially.

The latest IDF Life for a Child Programme update is now available for download. The update features an overview of the number of countries in which the Programme is active, with the total number of children supported in each country.

Every year, Australians from many walks of life are officially recognised by Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, for their service to the community, through the Order of Australia honours. The award is the "the principal and most prestigious means of recognising outstanding members of the community at a national level."

In 2012 the IDF Life for a Child Programme (LFAC) launched an ongoing campaign targeting diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a severe medical complication that occurs primarily in people with type 1 diabetes. Among the diabetes community, it had been recognised for many years that misdiagnosis occured in developing countries.